Tuesday, August 22, 2006

The PC Police are at it again, this time attacking classic cartoons that involve smoking. Reports Reuters:

They chase each other at high speed, wielding axes and hammers. But the famous cartoon duo of Tom and Jerry are in trouble in Britain for smoking on screen.

Media regulator Ofcom received a complaint from a viewer who took offence at two episodes involving smoking. In one, "Texas Tom," the hapless cat Tom tries to impress a feline female by rolling a cigarette, lighting it and smoking it with one hand. In the other, "Tennis Chumps," Tom's opponent in a match smokes a large cigar.In a bulletin posted online, Ofcom noted "concerns that smoking on television may normalize smoking," and said that the Turner company, licensee for Boomerang which aired the cartoons, had agreed to edit some smoking scenes out of Tom and Jerry. "The licensee has ... proposed editing any scenes or references in the series where smoking appeared to be condoned, acceptable, glamorized or where it might encourage imitation," Ofcom said, adding that "Texas Tom" was one such example.But it would not cut all smoking scenes, it added.

If only there were some sort of adults who were in charge of raising certain children and making sure that they only watched TV that was appropriate and learned the adults' values. But since there are no adults like this that I can think of, who are responsible for raising certain children, I guess we'd better censor everything and make sure it's safe. God forbid children be left to make decisions and think for themselves!